Free Education to Increase the Literacy Rate in Pakistan - Samiullah

Free education is funded through charitable organizations or taxation, rather than tuition fees. Primary education is free in many countries. In many developing countries, a small number of children step in secondary schools. In Pakistan, the literacy rate, as revealed by PSLM Survey 2012-13, is around 61%, which is considered the low literacy rate than the other countries. In contrast, UNHD 2011 report reveals that India, a rival country, enjoyed 74.04% literacy rate, with increased in later years.

This low rate of literacy is mainly due to the low public investment. Another reason is that the public investment is chiefly skewed towards the higher education, letting upper-income class obtain more benefits offered for education. Primary schools (institute of lower education) suffer from the conditions i.e. lower income classes can't enjoy subsidies or/and quality education.

Educational system in Pakistan has been criticizing mainly because it fails to increase the literate youth. Despite, the recent step of Free Education taken by Punjab Assembly to approve Free Education Bill 2014 seems a gateway to double the literacy rate in Pakistan. The bill makes parents obligatory to send their children to schools, or else they will be fined. The bill puts special stress on free education up to matriculation level. Education departments will be funded to provide free copies and books to make more affordability for educational expenses. The bill aims to remove illiteracy rate in Pakistan by 2020. In this way, children working to support their families will be able to attain education up to matriculation, simultaneously earning their daily bread.

Attaining education is a primary right to every child as by UN Declaration of Human Rights back 50 years. However, it is not the motive developed countries decided the provision of free education, rather than they recognize the increased and positive externalities of the primary education. For example, primary education doesn't only benefit the individual receives, but also benefits the society as a whole. Noteworthy links have been found between better health and education along with fertility rates and mortality. For this reason, Vietnam has gained higher literacy rates though it is a poor country. It enjoys the child mortality rate that is 1/3 those of Pakistan. In addition, attaining education is considered to be an instrument to decrease poverty as it raises productivity in all economic spheres.

Despite the noteworthy step of "Free Education" taken by Punjab Assembly, the primary education remains inequitably accessible among diverse income groups and various regions throughout the country. Literacy rate in Pakistan is lower as compared to those of other similar levels countries in economic development. The target "minimum provision of primary education" is yet to be achieved. A comprehensive and effective educational revolution is needed to improve the educational system in Pakistan. Therefore, we have to examine the existing educational system not merely in a specific province, but throughout the whole country and should address the issues in professional, progressive, and adequate manner.

I would like to invite all to appreciate Punjab Assembly for such advantageous decision and to encourage other provincial Assemblies to make such decision for more literate Pakistan.